Composite spacer seat for reinforcing fabric and bars

ABSTRACT

A composite spacer seat for reinforcing elements for paving construction including a base grid and a superposed vertically disposed geometrically configured spacer element connected to the base grid, the composite unit adapted to vertically support and position reinforcements in the construction, the grid and spacer element providing mutual stiffening for transmission of vertical loadings to a unit-supporting surface and the composite having positional stability.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Lorin H. Kilstofte 1840 Bonforte B1vd., Pueblo, Colo. 81001 [21 Appl. No. 826,820

[22) Filed May 22, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [54] COMPOSITE SPACER SEAT FOR REINFORCING FABRIC AND BARS 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. CI. 94/8, 52/687 [51] Int. Cl. E04c 5/16 [50] Field Search 52/687, 688, 689; 94/8 [56] References Cited UN lTED STATES PATENTS 1,510,516 10/1924 White 94/8 X 2,064,705 12/1936 Whitehead 94/8 2,165,333 7/1939 Bosco 52/687 2,642,789 6/1953 Brickman 94/8 2,924,091 2/1960 Harmer 52/687 3,132,448 5/1964 Phillips 52/689 1,656,378 l/l928 Lampert... 52/688 Primary Examiner-Jacob L. Nackenoff Attorney-Raphael Semmes ABSTRACT: A composite spacer seat for reinforcing elements for paving construction including a base grid and a superposed vertically disposed geometrically configured spacer element connected to the base grid, the composite unit adapted to vertically support and position reinforcements in the construction, the grid and spacer element providing mutual stiffening for transmission of vertical loadings to a unitsupporting surface and the composite having positional stabili- Patented Aug. 24, 1971 3,601,015

PB l ll ilk llll fi uuuuuuu F/Qi j 22 3 ma /7v? f/GZ COMPOSITE SPACER SEAT FOR IREINFORCING FABRIC AND BARS BACKGROUND OF TI-IE INVENTION Construction such as concrete paving and the like is widely used and known, and while the materials and method of creation differ according to the desired end construction, a sufficient strength is required in all such construction. Pavements, roadways and the like formed of concrete are widespread in use. In forming such structures, concrete is laid or poured in a plastic or slurry consistency on a supporting surface and can thereafter be vibrated or tamped for compaction, levelled, smoothed and permitted to dry and harden to complete the structure. As is well known, concrete structures have inherent strength characteristics, but in some applications it has been found desirable to incorporate therein reinforcing means to facilitate load distribution and impart strength and durability to the completed structure. Such reinforcement generally has included placement in the material of metal bars, rods, elements, prefabricated mesh such as hardware cloth, welded wire fabric and the like. Various methods and means have been used for the placement of such reinforcements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Whereas in the prior art, reinforcement for paving and the like, such as concrete, has been incorporated in varying forms and by varying methods, certain features and characteristics have been found lacking in formation and in the end construction. The present invention provides a novel reinforcement spacer seat to so vertically support and position reinforcements in concrete and the like structures during formation thereof as to overcome drawbacks of prior known methods and in the finalized construction. This is accomplished by a composite unit including a base grid and a superposed vertically disposed geometrically configured spacer element connected to the base grid. The grid and the spacer element are so shaped and connected as to provide mutual stiffening capable of transmitting vertical loadings to a unit-supporting surface and vertically supporting the reinforcement in a stable manner in proper vertical disposition in the structure.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent, and the invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangem'ent of parts, and certain features may be used without others, all such modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims being included in the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFLTHEDRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERREDEMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. I, a portionof a concrete structure, generally designated I0, is shown of a type such as, for example, concrete flooring, miscellaneous concrete tlatwork,

roads, sidewalks, precast panels and the like. The illustrated embodiment is a paving formed on a supporting surface 12, such as a graded roadbed which generally is of a soft nature. The composite spacer seats .l4of the present invention are, in formationof the structure, placed on thesupporting surface in desired positions, and reinforcements of any suitable type,

such as metal rods 16, are placed on the upper surface of the seats. The concrete is then poured and after vibrating, tamping etc., the concrete is permitted to dry into the completed structure.

The reinforcement, which can be of differenttypes including metal fabric or mesh such as hardware cloth, welded wire and the like for optimum results, is intended to be placed in an approximate middepth of a concrete section,'or at some other desired location which may vary according to end structures and uses. The present invention deals particularly with proper and stable placement of reinforcement by means of the spacer seat as it occurs over soft base materials such as earth. The present spacer seat due to its construction restricts or substantially prevents sinking of the unit into the supporting materials such as soil, insulation or the like, and thereby maintains proper vertical positioning of the reinforcement during the plastic stages of the placement of concrete or of a similar material.

This is accomplished by use of a base grid 18 of hardware cloth mesh or the like which is flat or shaped and of a desired size so that when placed on surface 12 it will distribute vertical loadings from above into the soil evenly to keep the unit from sinking into the supporting materials. The grid can be fabricated of different materials and be of different shapes and sizes depending upon existing conditions and uses. This base grid, due to the aforementioned feature, incorporates stability into each separate composite unit. Thus it is not dependent on the reinforcement above to a large degree, and therefore its spacing can be varied in either of two directions.

Vertical positioning of the reinforcement means is accomplished by means of a superposed vertically disposed spacer sheet 20 which can consist of metal wire mesh and the like and which can have different geometric configurations. On a preferred form, as shown in the drawings, the spacer sheet is S-shaped, a shape which is found to give good results. The mesh of the spacer sheet provides horizontal elements, such as wires, 22 in a vertically spaced array interconnected by spaced vertical elements, such as wires, 24. The spacer sheet is connected to or interlocked with the base grid 18 by means of bent lower ends 26 of the vertical elements as shown or by ring ties, bonding or fused connections for eirample. The connection must be such as to provide mutual stiffening between the components of the unit and provide for transmission of vertical loadings to the supporting surface. Loose or free connections obviously would not accomplish this result. The composite structure is such that the unit will remain firm and upright and maintain its design shape under load without requiring other lateral support. Various of .the vertical elements have unbent lower ends such as at 28 which serve to maintain placement of the units by insertion thereof into the material of the surface 12.

Bent upper ends 30 of vertical elements 24 are provided, and reinforcing rods 16, bars, mesh wire fabric, etc., can be laid directly over the spacer seat units and shifted as desired between the bent ends 30 to provide 'holddowns. This serves to eliminatecomplicated interconnection of reinforcements and the spacer units. The bent ends 30 also serve to receive additional seats placed above in tandem and protect-workers from accidental injury by puncture wounds.

The materials used are inexpensive, can be modified readily in shape and size. The S configuration, or others, and the base grid can be easily formed of'rectilinear portions of rolled stock and can easily be machine fabricated. The S shape, for example, permits reversing in plan for stacking upside down for packing purposes.

Advantageously, the vertical disposition of the'spaccr sheet eliminates possible excessive bending such as might-occur for example in slanted portions of known types of spacer units,

The present spacer seatpermits easy disposition of concrete or similar material therearound, and concrete when placed will serve to hold the unit down in its desired location,=the construction restraining upward or sideways movement upon vibration of the construction material.

homogeneous sheet of any of the materials mentioned above for such a construction.

The spacer seat of the present invention excels in maintaining its position, balance and shape; it is simple and economical; it is flexible in its use and location; it is easy to install; it stays in position better; it can serve as a holddown for bars and fabric without additional ties or devices; and it can be made into a clear span form, spacer, and reinforcing, all in one.

Manifestly minor changes and modifications can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in, and limited solely by, the appended claims.

1. A composite spacer seat for reinforcing elements comprising a base member adapted for placement on a supporting surface, a vertical elongate spacer element superposed on said base member, said base member and said spacer element being interconnected for mutual stiffening thereof as a unit and compositely constituting a vertical positioning support for a reinforcing element, said vertical spacer element being S shaped in plan for enhanced strength and increased interconnection contact positions with said base and comprising a wire mesh open grid of spaced interconnected vertical and horizontal wires forming the mesh, the lower ends of at least some of said vertical wires being bent and interconnecting said base and said spacer element.

2. A composite spacer seat as claimed in claim 1, the upper ends of said vertical wires being bent and forming reinforcing element support, positioning and securement means.

3. A composite spacer seat for reinforcing elements comprising a base member consisting of a plurality of intersecting spaced wires adapted for placement on a supporting surface, a vertical elongated spacer element supported on said base member, said spacer element being S shaped in plan and comprising a plurality of vertical wires secured to said base member and connected by vertically spaced horizontal wires for mutual stiffening of the spacer element as a unit and compositely constituting a vertical positioning support for a reinforcing element.

4. A composite spacer seat as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least some of said vertical wires are provided with bent portions adjacent said base for increased strength characteristics. 

1. A composite spacer seat for reinforcing elements comprising a base member adapted for placement on a supporting surface, a vertical elongate spacer element superposed on said base member, said base member and said spacer element being interconnected for mutual stiffening thereof as a unit and compositely constituting a vertical positioning support for a reinforcing element, said vertical spacer element being S shaped in plan for enhanced strength and increased interconnection contact positions with said base and comprising a wire mesh open grid of spaced interconnected vertical and horizontal wires forming the mesh, the lower ends of at least some of said vertical wires being bent and interconnecting said base and said spacer element.
 2. A composite spacer seat as claimed in claim 1, the upper ends of said vertical wires being bent and forming reinforcing element support, positioning and securement means.
 3. A composite spacer seat for reinforcing elements comprising a base member consisting of a plurality of intersecting spaced wires adapted for placement on a supporting surface, a vertical elongated spacer element supported on said base member, said spacer element being S shaped in plan and comprising a plurality of vertical wires secured to said base member and connected by vertically spaced horizontal wires for mutual stiffening of the spacer element as a unit and compositely constituting a vertical positioning support for a reinforcing element.
 4. A composite spacer seat as claimed in claim 3 wherein at least some of said vertical wires are provided with bent portions adjacent said base for increased strength characteristics. 